Resolution of UAW 2865 in Support of SB-562 (Lara/Atkins) The Healthy California Act

Whereas, ​individuals who are unable to access the health care they need for themselves or their family members may, as a result, face challenges maintaining employment, contributing to the economy, learning in school, or living a full and dignified life; and,

Whereas, ​California’s present health care system creates insecurity for everyone, even those with healthinsurance, who suffer unpredictable coverage, cancellations, little choice of providers, decreased benefits, and increased premiums, co-pays, and deductibles; and

Whereas, ​rising healthcare costs, and cost shifting from insurance companies to patients are creating serious economic problems for employers and employees by undermining wages and pensions, pricing individual insurance purchasers out of the market, escalating the number of uninsured and underinsured, and placing a significant strain on funding for public institutions; and,

Whereas, ​a universal, single-payer health insurance system, with consolidated financing and an accountable public structure, has been predicted in numerous American studies, and demonstrated in other countries, to result in greater efficiency, lower costs to businesses, individuals, and government; and,

Whereas, ​previous efforts to reform our healthcare system, notably the Affordable Care Act, which brought many improvements, did not result in a universal, comprehensive and affordable health care system, and even these efforts are under attack; and,

Whereas, ​as the federal government is moving more responsibility for health care to the states, it is imperative that California protect its residents by establishing a truly universal comprehensive system, which controls costs, and for which eligibility is based on residency, rather than employment or income; and,

Whereas, ​SB 562 is efficient, eliminating waste by consolidating the functions of many insurance companies into one comprehensive public plan, thus saving consumers and the state billions annually;

Now, therefore be it resolved​ that UAW 2865 supports universal access to healthcare for all Californians through SB 562 (Lara/Atkins), and organizes to support passage of this bill.